Method of filling and sealing metal containers



March 27, 1945. v R, w s ETAL 2,372,290

METHOD OF FI'LLING AND SEALING METAL CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 29, 1941 INVENTORS VERNON R. PAWE L SK Y BY FERDINAND FHE/SER ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 1,1945

METHOD OF FILLING AND SEALING METAL CONTAINERS Vernon R. Pawelsky, Milwaukee, and Ferdinand F. Heiser, Wauwatosa. Wis assignors to Automatic Products Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 29, 1941, Serial No. 408,767

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a method for assembling, filling, and sealing containers or receptacles made of metal.

An object of this invention is to provide a method of assembling and filling metal containers which includes the steps of extending the container prior to filling and bringing the parts of the container to the normal position when the filling is completed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for filling meta1 containers in which the total outside area is decreased after filling to compact the contents.

A further object of the invention is to provide 'a method for sealing filled metal containers by welding in which the heat required for fusion of the metal is kept away from the contents of the container.

Still another object of this invention is to provides. method of filling and scaling in a container, material which it is desirable to compress.

Our invention further resides invthe combination, construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, and while we have illustrated therein preferred embodisipating or connecting element used in practicing this invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings and more particulary to Figure 3 the letter C indicates generally one form of the embodiment of this invention in which the side walls l2 and It are integral with the end walls It and i8 respectively. The side walls l2 and it have annular flanged or outtumed portions 20 and 22 respectively which cooperate whenthe shell A, which is comprised of the end wall l8 and side wall I, and the shell 13, comprised of the end wall it and side wall l2,- are brought together, as shown in Figure 2, for

' fusing. I

container is put, the size, shape, etc. of the container. The present embodiment shows the container as a round drum construction but it is understood that this is for illustration only and the construction is not to be limited in the manner shown. As a matter of fact it may be rectangular, conical and divers other geometrical figures. The present embodiment shows the sections A and B symmetrical in construction and similar in shape but this too is only for purposes of exemplification. The'shells A and B may be totally unlike in construction so long, of course, as the annular flanged ends 20 and 22 cooperate to form a Joint which can be fused.

A connecting or heat dissipating element l0 slidably fits into the openings 24 and 26 of the shells A and B. This element III has many functions. It forms a connecting means between the shells A and B, provides a means for filling the container with comminuted or finely divided particles and allows for compressing of the contents if this is desirable, and provides a heat dissipating element or shield which prevents excess heat from entering the container during the fusion of the shells.

The element It is divided or disioined at 32 to give a' spring effect to the element so that it will frictionally engage the shells A and B into which it slidably moves axially. Raised portions 34 are formed on the element I II and co-act with the rounded edges 38 and of the side walls l2 and II respectively to limit the axial travel of the heat dissipating element. This construction assures the centering of the filling element It below the joint 42. Contents not adaptable for insertion through the opening 28 may be put into the container before it is assembled, that is, before the shell A or B has been slipped over the element ll.

Figure 1 illustrates one application of a modified form of the invention applied to a refrigeration circuit, not shown. The modified form is substantially of the same construction as the form previously described except the end walls It and 48 are provided with openingsfor the reception of fittings l8 and 50 which are adapted to connect a refrigeration line, not shown. The fittings l8 and 50 may be secured to the end walls 44 and 48 respectively in any suitable manner such as welding. The container illustrated in Figure 1 is filled with a dehydrating material Bil-in this case silica gel-and is used to remove moisture from a refrigeration system. A screen 52 disposed in the ends of the receptacle H covers the openings into the fittings 48 and I to prevent the iinely divided particles of the silica gel from passing into the system, not shown. The container H has the side walls, heat dissipating element, and annular flange the same as the container C heretofore described.

It the deviceoi this invention is used as shown in Figure 1 where it is desirable to have the contents thereof compact but not in a compressed state the volume of the container may be calculated in the sealed position shown in Figure 2 and the volume oi dehydrating agent corresponding to this calculated volume put into the container while in its extended position and then the shells A and B moved axially toward each other until the flanges 20 and 22 contact'. It is while the flanges are in this abutting position that they are fused. The degree of compactness of the substance in the container can be regulated by varyin the extension or the shells A and B during filling and/or by the amount of substance added to the container when filling.

During the iusing heat is dissipated which would be thrown directly onto the contents of the container ii it were not for the heat dissipating element I 0 which absorbs the heat and transfers it along the side walls I! and II where it is radiated to the outside surrounding media. This heat transfer to the side walls prevents the fusion and/or firing of the contents of the container.

Having described the invention we claim:

1. The method of filling and sealing a drum having a plurality of sections and one less connecting element than sections, the connecting element having an opening therethrough, which includes the steps of spacing said sections .axially to provide access to the interior of said sections,

connecting the sections by the element with the opening therein exposed, filling said sections through the opening through the element, bringing the adiacent ends of said sections into juxtacomprising a plurality of sections and having one less connecting element than sections, said connecting element having an opening therethrough which includes the steps 01' spacing said sections axially, inserting the connecting element between each two of said sections, filling said sections through the opening in said element while said sections are all in spaced relation, bringing the adjacent ends of said sections into abutting relation and thereby covering the opening in said element and compressing said material, and i'using the abutting ends of said sections.

3. The method of forming a plurality of sections and a connecting element into a container. said element having an opening therethrough filling and sealing the same which includes the steps of spacing said sections axially, connecting each two of said sections by the element substantially coterminous with the ends of said sections, filling said sections through the opening in said element, bringing the adjacent ends of said sections into contact and thereby covering the opening in and enclosing said element within said sections, and fusing the contacting ends of said sections.

VERNON R. PAWELSKY. FERDINAND F. HEISER. 

